Still Life

What is a still life? A work of art which represents a subject composed of inanimate objects Subjects include vessels, fruit, game, flowers, books, fabrics, etc. allow an artist more freedom in arrangement of design elements within a composition than do paintings of landscapes and portraits

Origin While the genre is much older, the term still life coined in the Netherlands in the 17th century (1600s)

The Ancient Egyptians painted stacks of offerings for the gods, in temples or tombs. The Egyptians were not interested in perspective, or in shading. They didn't care about making things look realistic. They just wanted to clearly show what each of these objects was.?

Greek and Roman. These were more realistic than the Egyptians' efforts. - Still lifes painted (encaustic or wax) or tiles mosaics decorated walls and floors of homes and villas. -more effort in accurate shading and colouring than the Egyptians

The Renaissance (1400s) At this time still life played a secondary role in paintings of Christian religious subjects: life of Christ, saints, biblical stories, etc. objects often took on symbolic significance in a work of art As symbols these objects represent other concepts that common people would understand. For example, they understood that a white lily represented purity

Robert Campin, Merode Altarpiece, oil on wood, 1425

white lilies- extinguished candle- book with turning pages-

During the 17 th century, especially in Northern Europe (Netherlands, Germany, etc), the still life became a valued subject matter on its own. Decline in religious painting due to the Reformation (fracturing of Christian church- development of Calvanism, Lutherism) and beginning of iconoclasm. Based on 2 nd commandment (Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image), religious imagery was forbidden and often destroyed.

Pieter Claesz, Still life with Glass and Silver Bowl,Oil on wood, 1630s -Breakfast Still Life -simplified- pared down colour scheme

Vanitas Popular type of still life based on passage from the Bible, which says 'vanity of vanities - all is vanity'. The idea was that people love their pleasures in life yet it all means nothing because we cannot take it with us when we die. Vanitas paintings typically had expensive objects, musical instruments and wine goblets standing for pleasure - but also reminders of time passing such as a candle or hourglass, or of death, usually a skull. Mass deaths due to plague (black death) had people contemplating their deaths.

Adriaen van Utrecht – Vanitas, composition with flowers and skull

Mary Pratt, Eviscerated Chicken, oil on canvas, 1971 As a woman, wife and mother, Mary Pratt spent most of her time in the kitchen. The objects found in her kitchen have become the subject of her work.

Scott Fraser, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. Oil on Board, 14.5" x 21.75"

Scott Fraser, Aghast Oil on board, 28" x 43"

Catenary Curve

Joanna Strong A Pieceful Waterfall

Dorion Scott

The Painting a Day Movement The internet has given birth to a growing number of artists who commit to completing a painting a day. More often that not, they offer images of still lifes on line that are auctioned off as a source of income. y/ck0qhttp:// y/ck0q

What are some of the benefits of painting a still life a day? Familiarity with materials – able to more quickly manipulate them to achieve a variety of effects Still lifes are easy to manipulate – variety of colours, textures, patterns, lighting, povs Improved compositions Contribution to hours of practice recommended by Malcolm Gladwell

Still Life Assignment Create a still life drawing using a collection of 3 objects connected by one of the following themes: equality faith, or aspirations Bring in 3 objects that connect to one of these themes to Monday’s class. Objects should be portable, large enough to see detail, of little monetary or sentimental value.